AB0376 CARDIOVASCULAR RISK STRATIFICATION ACCORDING TO SERUM NON-HDL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH RECENTLY DIAGNOSED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.
Authors: F. Bizzarri, N. Molina Osorio, E. Raya, I. Aomar Millan, J. Salvatierra
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> It is estimated that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 50% compared to the general population [1,2]. Non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL CT) has become an innovative marker of cardiovascular risk (CVR). According to the recommendations of the ESC of 2022 [2], patients with RA start from an intermediate CVR and recommend non-HDL TC levels &lt;130mg/dL. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate long-term risk of CVD according to nonHDL CT levels in a cohort of patients with recently diagnosed RA who started biological therapy and describe its characteristics. <h3>Methods</h3> 71 patients with RA under biological treatment were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and analytical data were obtained at the time of diagnosis. To estimate the risk of CVD in the long term, we applied the model developed by Brunner F. J. et al. [3] -Figure 1-. Based on this, the patients were stratified into 5 CVR groups according to the non-HDL CT and grouped into three age ranges. Statistical analysis was carried out using IBM-SPSS Statistics version 26. <h3>Results</h3> The demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and CVR groups are indicated in Table 1. Regarding the mean age according to the CVR group: in the 8 patients of group 1 it was 38.13 ± 15.28 years - 7 with age &lt; 45 years and one &gt; 60 years -, in group 2 it was 42.93 ± 11.76 years - 17 patients &lt; 45 years, 10 between 45 and 59 years and 2 ≥ 60 years -, in the 31 patients of group 3 it was 51.45 ± 11.49 years - 8 &lt; 45 years, 15 between 45-59 years and 8 ≥ 60 years -. In the 2 patients in group 4 it was 52.5 years (45-59) and the patient in group 5 was 36 years old at diagnosis. No significant correlations were found between CRP, ESR, RF, ACPAs levels and presence of radiographic erosions with nonHDL CT values. Significant differences (p value &lt; 0.01) were observed between the youngest individuals (age &lt; 45 years) in groups 1 and 2 with respect to individuals older than 60 years in risk groups 3 or 4. The application of the current model -Figure 1- estimated a mean probability of CVD of 9.7% at 75 years with a reduction to 3.54% after a 50% decrease in non-HDL TC. A single fatal cardiovascular event was recorded in an obese, hypertensive, and diabetic man, classified in risk group 3. <h3>Conclusion</h3> In our cohort of patients with new-onset RA, the majority (46%) were classified as CVR group 3 (nonHDL CT 145-184 mg/dL), despite approximately 50% being &lt;45 years of age. Exposure from an early age to a moderate increase in non-HDL CT induces an increase in long-term CVR, not captured by the 10-year CVR estimate. For all this, emphasis should be placed on the establishment of measures to reduce CVR guided by non-HDL CT levels in patients diagnosed with RA. <h3>References</h3> [1] https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209775 [2] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rec.2022.04.003 [3] https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32519-x <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.